Victoria II is a complex and engaging grand strategy title that presents alternate takes on the history of the XIX century while allowing the player to be both king, spiritual leader, commander of armies and lead economist for a huge array of nations.
It has a ton of detail, a huge amount of replay value, complex mechanics that can take time and energy to understand and it will be a must have for all those who love the history of the Victorian era.
There aren't too many video game experiences that allow the player to inhabit such a wide variety of roles while also delivering a massive dose of historicity.
And the huge difference between Victoria, in general, and other Paradox made series like Hearts of Iron or Europa Universalis is that the game brings a bigger focus to population, to how they evolve or devolve through the ages, how they change their political views, what makes them angry enough to pick up weapons, what makes them go out and try capitalism in its wildest phases and what pushes them to turn to fascists for support.
My first game was with Austria and after a few diplomatic options and setting my research priority for the first few years I've spent about half an hour just scrolling through the POP interface, looking at various provinces and their make up, watching the issues that my population is interested in and making a mental plan about how to encourage my farmers and laborers to become better and evolve.
One of the most interesting elements of Victoria II is the diplomatic section, especially if you play a Great Power or a country that aspires to that status. The diplomatic dance can be very nuanced and surprising, with the game really making the gamer feel like a chancellor working to expand the interests of his country.
The early game seems to have limited options when it comes to politics and reforms, mainly when playing a country that is governed by an authoritarian monarchy but that all changes as more ideologies appear and as the conflict between liberalism and the old order sharpens.
One element of Victoria II that initially bewildered me is the trade section and I think that allowing the Artificial Intelligence to control which goods are bought and sold is the best thing for the first run through the game.
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